Authentic Culinary Holiday in Venice, Italy

The cooking vacations at the Tenuta Castel Venezze will allow you to immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle of Veneto and learn to cook authentic Italian dishes in an informal and friendly environment. The classes are small enough to accommodate cooks of all levels and are ideal for small groups of family and friends. It is also possible to bring along a non-participating partner, who can spend the day enjoying the surroundings, sightseeing or playing golf. Then, join the group at dinner time.

Highlights

3 hands-on cooking lessons

Learn how to prepare traditional Italian recipes

Visit Il Dominio di Bagnoli and taste the famous Friularo (red dry wine) in the cellars

Optional Salami Copparo farm visit to taste salamis of the area

3 dinners and 3 lunches accompanied by Italian wines

3 nights accommodation

Daily breakfast

Styles

Accommodation

Villa Castel Venezze is a medieval property set in the heart of a beautiful green park in the Venetian countryside. The accommodation, a prestigious villa owned by noblemen, was restored in the 16th century after the destruction of the ancient castle. It offers you an oasis of peace and tranquility, where you can enjoy the real Venetian life and food. There is a biological swimming pool, disinfected only by mineral salts, and a large parking place.

Stay overnight in charming rooms with original ancient furniture, air conditioning, private en-suite bathroom, and satellite-TV. You will enjoy the great care to details that Maria Giustiniani, the owner, has given to her villa, the restaurant and, most important, to her guests. Under her watchful eyes, Maria’s Tenuta has been transformed into one of Veneto's finest accommodation, keeping its original, old style and charm.

Program

Day 1 - Arrival, cooking lesson

Arrive at the villa.

At 10:30, you will have your first hands-on cooking lesson, followed by lunch.

Today, you are going to start making dishes using techniques and recipes handed down through generations of local women - typical appetizers, pasta, tagliatelle, tortellini, meat courses, side dishes, vegetables and cakes.

Lunch follows, including D.O.C. Italian wine.

In the afternoon, you can relax at the villa or visiting the beauties of the nearer surroundings with one by joining one of their tours.

Dinner at the villa.

Day 2 - Cooking lesson, wine tasting

Breakfast.

Hands-on cooking lesson during which, you will learn how to make and cook other traditional Italian recipes from appetizers to dessert.

Lunch at the villa, accompanied by Italian wine.

In the afternoon, you are suggested to make a visit with the guide to Il Dominio di Bagnoli (Padua), villa of the 14th century, where you'll taste the famous Friularo (red dry wine) in the cellars.

You will be back at about 18:00.

Dinner at the villa.

Day 3 - Cooking lesson, optional salami farm visit

Breakfast.

Another full-menu hands-on cooking lesson.

At the end of lesson, you will sit down and enjoy the meal together.

In the afternoon, you are suggested to make a visit to Salami Copparo farm, near Ferrara, to learn the production of the most famous and tasty salamis of the area.

At the end of the visit, enjoy a tasting with the farmers.

Dinner at the villa.

Day 4 - Departure

Breakfast.

Departure.

Location

The hands-on Italian cooking lessons take place in the beautiful villa Castel Venezze, a 16th-century family property which is situated in the north side of Italy in the Veneto region, near Venice.

Nearby places:

Bologna - 1 hour

Treviso - 1 hour, 30 minutes

Venice - 1 hour

Verona - 1 hour

Food

All meals are comprised in this package, including noble Italian and Venetian wines, and other drinks.

Things to do (optional)

In the summer, the garden is cool and green, and you can relax in the swimming pool or enjoy a glass of good wine under the roof terrace. From May to September, you can also enjoy the ecological swimming pool. Additionally, during your stay in the Veneto area, you can take part in one of the tours organized by Maria's Cookery Course.

Cheese factory visit and tasting

Visit a farm in Anguillara, a small village near Tenuta Castel Veneze, and learn how to make the best traditional homemade cheeses. You will experience the different kinds of cheeses: exclusively cow's milk and sheep's milk, or a mixture between the two types of milk. They may vary depending of the recipe or style being made. Italian cheeses are different from region to region; they may be fresh, mature or semi-mature. The type of processing also varies. Some cheeses are made with acid coagulation of the milk, while others are produced with rennet coagulation. Of course, the most common case is that which provides for a coagulation mixed.

During this tour, you will learn the entire production process of different types of cheese. You can also visit the dairy and taste the best cheeses from their products. Some experts will lead you through the farm and explain the process as you move along. First class tasting sessions are prepared for you. The sessions are a combination of delicious meat products, homemade wine, and an unforgettable country atmosphere. The suggested schedule may be substituted at anytime based on group size and tasting room availability. The tour is available only on Monday and Friday.

Tour program:

15:00 departure from Tenuta Castel Venezze

15:30 arrival to Morandi, visit to the cheese factory with our guide, and the cells of cheese ripening

16:30 cheese tasting

17:30 go back to Tenuta Castel Venezze

Salami farm visit and tasting

Visit to a farm in Copparo, a small village near Ferrara, and learn how to make the best traditional homemade salami. You will experience the different kinds of salami: exclusively pork meat, or a mixture of pork and beef, but they can also be made with venison or other game meats, poultry, goose, lamb, and goat. They may vary depending of the recipe or style being made. Italian salami are different from region to region; they can be un-smoked or smoked, with or without garlic, each with their own formulas, curing, and maturation.

During this tour, you will be shown the production process of the best salami of the area, from fresh pork meat to the final product. Some experts will lead you through the farm and explain the process as you move along. First class tasting sessions, sessions that are a combination of delicious meat products, homemade wine, and an unforgettable country atmosphere, are prepared for you. The schedule may be substituted at anytime based on group size and tasting room availability. The tour is available only on Wednesdays.

Tour program:

14:30 departure from Tenuta Castel Venezze

15:30 arrival to Copparo, visit to the farm with a guide, and to the salami production area

16.30 salami tasting

17.30 go back to Tenuta Castel Venezze

Wine tasting at villa Widmann - Borletti in Bagnoli

During your stay in Tenuta Castel Venezze for your cookery course, you will have the chance to be part in the wine tasting tour program, which allows you to discover the Bagnoli DOC area. During this excursion, you will have the chance to see the old aristocratic villa Widmann Borletti and the cellars Il Dominio di Bagnoli that date back to 14th century. This winery produces the Friularo grape that is a native grape and has been used to produce a very special passito red wine that is dried till January in a special room upstairs the cellar after a late harvest. Along the way, your guide will share compelling wine-related information and introduce you to winemakers.

Tour program:

15:00 departure from Tenuta Castel Venezze

15:45 arrival at the winery Il Dominio di Bagnoli, visit the cellar with a guide

16:30 wine tasting in the cellar

17:30 go back to Tenuta Castel Venezze

What's included

3 cooking lessons in the mornings

3 nights accommodation at Villa Tenuta Castel Venezze

Italian and Venetian wines

All meals

What's not included

Airfare

Local transportation

Suggested tours

Airport transfers

How to get there

Recommended Airports

VCE

Venice Marco Polo Airport

7 km

Transfer included

Driving directions from Treviso

Within 5 minutes of the Treviso Airport (TSF), there is a motorway road that has an exit just 10 to 15 minutes from Maria's Cookery Course.

Arrival by airplane

Book your flight to arrive at Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Maria's Cookery Course will pick you up from the airport. You can also arrive at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), Treviso Airport (TSF), Verona Villafranca Airport (VRN), yet there will be an additional cost required.

Airport: Venice Marco Polo Airport
Airport transfer included: Venice Marco Polo Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

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